Environmental groups unite against telecoms mast threatening protected Brentham Meadows
Brentham Meadows. Photo by Ben Morris
Ealing’s environmental organisations have condemned plans to erect a 17.5-metre telecoms mast on Brentham Meadows, a 9.5 acre meadow located in the Northern end of the Brent River Park in Ealing, London, warning the proposal threatens one of the UK’s most diminished habitats.
The Brent River Park charity, Ealing Wildlife Group, Ealing Parks Foundation and Brentham Allotment Gardens Society are urging residents to object to the application by MBNL (jointly owned by EE and Three) before the 14th October deadline, citing the potentially devastating impact on a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) – the same protection level as Green Belt.
The development would require the felling of a mature oak tree with centuries of life remaining, simply to replace a mast previously located on a nearby brownfield site.
Katie Boyles, Secretary of the Brent River Park charity, said:
“Attempting to install a telecoms mast on both Metropolitan Open Land and a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation is wholly unacceptable. A mast risks damaging this valuable meadow habitat, floodplain and vital wildlife corridor. This ill-advised proposal undermines the openness of this protected landscape and directly contradicts planning policies designed to safeguard such spaces as this. Speaking frankly, it’s bonkers to consider putting such an industrial structure in one of our valued community green spaces within the Brent River Park and chopping down older trees to do so. We strongly urge the applicant and council to seek alternative sites that do not threaten biodiversity and well-being on our doorstep. We also encourage all local residents and supporters of our park to please submit their objections to ensure Brentham Meadows is safeguarded. Meadow habitats already face serious threats from development, pollution and neglect, a telecoms mast should not be another.”
Sean McCormack, founder of Ealing Wildlife Group, added:
“This proposal is a crass and ludicrous example of blatant disregard for nature. The value of our remaining islands of wildlife habitat lies in their sum total and their connectivity. Continue to fragment them and degrade them and they will fail to hold on to the living creatures, plants and animals relying on them to survive. The proposed mast would be in totally inappropriate location. This is a precious meadow, one of our fastest declining habitats in this country. For anyone who thinks “who cares?” just remember our green spaces are the lungs of your city, cleaning your air, capturing carbon, improving water quality.
“Constructing the mast would require the removal of a mature Oak tree that has centuries left to live. Who has that right to chop it down for a metal mast that was previously located on the roof of a building? If it has previously been on a building, put it on another building. We have a global climate and biodiversity crisis, and Ealing has a Biodiversity Action Plan. So I’m urging the Council to take the sensible decision and reject this proposal outright. It’s a slippery slope, this chipping away at precious remnants of nature, especially in the urban environment. It sets a dangerous precedent and is totally unacceptable.”
Robin John of Brentham Allotment Gardens Society (BAGS) argued that the new mast should be located in the same position as the one it is replacing:
“When we at BAGS objected at the consultation stage, the proposers replied there was nowhere else it could go. Yet it replaces the telecom mast on the old Westworld building just north of A40, which is a brown field site and a more appropriate location.”
Jane Fernley, Chair of Ealing Parks Foundation and Secretary of the Brentham Allotments Committee, said:
“Brentham Meadows is a much loved green space, which is important for local nature, and offers a green corridor to Brent River Park. It is totally unsuitable for this 17.7m proposed mast and associated infrastructure.”
Brentham Meadows within the Brent River Park
The campaigners’ key concerns about the proposal are:
- Contravenes the Environment Act 2021 – fails Biodiversity Net Gain requirement
- Wrong location – should remain on Brownfield Site where the previous mast stood
- Precious habitat at risk – 98% of UK meadows lost since WW2
- Flood risk – inappropriate development on Ealing’s functional floodplain in the Brent River Park
- Wildlife disruption – threatens bat foraging routes and bird breeding
- Tree destruction – mature oak, and other established trees, to be felled for site access
- No alternatives explored – applicant failed to demonstrate that less sensitive sites are unavailable
- Community Green Space – used by residents for physical and mental health benefits
The groups argue that approval would set a dangerous precedent for development on protected Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) and Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) across London.
The Brent River Park charity is urging Ealing residents to respond to the planning consultation and oppose the application. The charity has posted a copy of its own objections on its website which residents are welcome to use as a template.
Follow this link for the consultation documents, this link to leave comments and this link for the Brent River Park charity’s objections in full. Reference: 253512PNT